I agree that this sounds like Sangiovese successfully "failed" the selection process for an attack. And I like his planned challenge just fine. I know John Farnam would be proud. Asking "Can I help you?" with a firm command presence in your stance and demeanor will work just fine for queuing up BGs to the fact you aren't food. As John would say, "…courteous to all, friendly to none…”fm2 wrote:Looks like a good job of awareness to me.
My suggestion is to not "invite" a conversation with your verbal challenge. Maybe something like "Could you hold up right there?" ....my plan was to turn toward them and challenge them with a loud, "Can I help you?"
Since they were pacing/following you, maybe you just keep moving, like you were. Working to improve your position and checking on them to see if they were closing distance and watching to see if you were being pushed into an ambush.
On the other hand, "Could you hold up right there?" is no less of an "invite" for a conversation. Knowing the mindset of the knuckleheads I've grown up with on the east side of Houston, I know that sort of opener can and will come off as a straight up challenge. It gets even worse if you seem "cocky" at the time because there will be some moron willing to try you. The result is you may initiate a confrontation that will just keep going downhill once it starts.
YMMV, but that's my experience.